German Beer

German Beer

Beers of Europe is proud to stock the UK's finest range of German Beers including well known brands and hidden gems. From the country whose love of beer is well known around the world.

If there’s one thing Germany’s known for, it’s beer. It’s a core part of German culture and comes in a whole range of different styles, and the locals enjoy it so much that in 2010 the country was ranked second in terms of per capita beer consumption. If that doesn’t show how much they love the good stuff, we don’t know what does…

German beer brewing historyGerman beer brewing goes back centuries. The country is home to the Weihenstephan brewery, founded in a Benedictine abbey in 725 AD and brewing since 1040, with it thought to be the oldest existing brewery in the world. Since then the practice has continued to evolve, and despite the fact the country’s been subject to the Reinheitsgebot (or German beer purity law, which dictates the ingredients that can be used in beer production) it boasts a surprising number of styles.

These days there are thought to be around 1300 breweries scattered across Germany (almost half of which being in the Bavaria region) that produce some 5,000 different kinds of beer, ranging from wheat beers and unfiltered lagers to pale and dark beers, with regional varieties including the likes of Kolsch, Altbier, Weissbier, smoked beer and Kellerbier providing a fantastic level of choice.

OktoberfestWe couldn’t talk about German beer without mentioning Oktoberfest. These days it’s got international recognition with countries across the globe getting in on the action, but the original Oktoberfest takes place in Munich and runs for 16-18 days. Only beer that’s been brewed within the city limits and contains at least 13.5% Master Spice can become a designated Oktoberfest Beer, and as you’d expect, a large amount of beer is consumed during the celebration. This isn’t the only German beer festival though—several others take place throughout the year, and if you want even more tradition you can’t go wrong with a beer stein.

Want to get the best of German beer without leaving your own home? Then take a look around! Our extensive range covers everything from pilsners and brand names to regional varieties and lesser-known gems, so take a browse and you can soon get the best from the country that’s all about its beer.